Plextor PX-708A User Manual

Model PX-708A Internal ATAPI
DVD±R/RW, CD-R/RW DRIVE

INSTALLATION AND USERS MANUAL
OCTOBER 2003
Plextor reserves the right to make improvements in the products
described in this manual at any time without prior notice.
Plextor makes no representation or warranties with respect to the

contents hereof and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of
merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. Further, Plextor
Corp. reserves the right to revise this manual and to make changes in
its content without obligation to notify any person or organization of
such revision or change.
This manual is copyrighted, all rights reserved. It may not be copied,

photocopied, translated, or reduced to any electronic medium or
machine-readable form without Plextor’s prior permission.
Manual copyright ©2003 Plextor Corp. Fourth edition, October 2003.
Licenses and Trademarks

Plextor and the Plextor logo are registered trademarks of Plextor Corp. All other
licenses and trademarks are property of their respective owners.
Record Your Serial Number

For future reference, record the serial number and the TLA code (found
on your drive’s label) in the space provided below.
TLA/Firmware Revision Number

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
Model Number: PX-708A
Trade Name: PLEXTOR
Responsible Party: PLEXTOR Co., Ltd.
Address: 48383 Fremont Blvd, Suite 120, Fremont, CA 94538-6509, USA
Telephone Number: 510-440-2000
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION STATEMENT

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This
equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy, and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no guarantee interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment causes harmful interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to
try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
CAUTION: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the
equipment.
CANADIAN DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

STATEMENT
This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from
digital apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian Department
of Communications.
This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme a la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
LASER INFORMATION
These products have been designed and manufactured according to IEC 60825-1 on the
Safety of Laser products. This product comes under “Class 1 Laser Products.”
CAUTION: Use of controls or adjustments or performance of procedures other

than those specified herein may result in hazardous radiation exposure.
A Laser Caution Label is attached on the top of the internal drive model. The label reads:
“CAUTION – CLASS 3B VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE LASER RADIATION WHEN
OPEN. AVOID EXPOSURE TO THE BEAM.”
Top View of Internal Drive Showing Caution Label Location
Detail of Laser Caution Labels
The laser beam emitted from the optical pickup is visible and invisible. Accordingly:
• Do not open the optical pickup housing.
• Obtain service only from Plextor-authorized personnel.
CAUTION: To disconnect the DVD/CD drive from an electrical current, pull out the
computer’s power plug.
Table of Contents
1. Getting Started ..............................................................................1
About this Manual ...........................................................................1
Meet Your PX-708A .......................................................................2
What the PX-708A Does .............................................................2
Features of the PX-708A .............................................................3
Minimum Configuration to Use the PX-708A ............................5
What You Can Do with the PX-708A .........................................5
What’s In the Box............................................................................6
Save Your Box! ...........................................................................6
PX-708A Drive Features and Controls............................................7
Front Panel—PX-708A Internal Drive........................................7
Rear Panel—PX-708A Internal Drive .........................................8
About Software................................................................................9
Precautions ....................................................................................10
2. Installing Your PX-708A Internal Drive ...................................11
QuickStart Installation—For Experienced PC Users Only........11
Open the Computer and Prepare for Installation ...........................12
Determine Your Existing IDE Configuration................................12
Set the Drive’s Mode Jumper ........................................................13
Changing the Mode Jumper on Your PX-708A Drive ..............14
Select an IDE Configuration..........................................................16
About Cable Select ........................................................................21
Identifying Whether Your System Uses Cable Select ...............22
Locating the Master Position on a Cable Select Cable ..............22
Set the DMA Jumper .....................................................................22
Install the PX-708A Drive.............................................................24
Record the Serial Number .........................................................24
Mount the Drive in the Computer..............................................24
Using Sound Boards and Audio Cables.........................................30
Make Sure the Drive Is Recognized ..............................................31
3. Using Your PX-708A...................................................................33
What Media to Use........................................................................33
DVD Media ...............................................................................33
CD-ROM Media........................................................................33
Tray Loading and Operation..........................................................35
PX-708A Installation and Users Manual v

Table of Contents
Handling DVD and CD Media.................................................. 35

Cleaning Discs .......................................................................... 36
Mounting Position......................................................................... 36
Playing DVDs ............................................................................... 37
Writing to DVD Media ................................................................. 37
Specifying +R/RW or -R/RW ................................................... 37
Which Should I Choose?........................................................... 37
Writing to CD-R and CD-RW Media ........................................... 38
Using the LED Indicator ............................................................... 38
LED Color................................................................................. 38
LED Blink Rate......................................................................... 39
Switching Between SpeedRead and Silent Operation................... 39
Advantages of Buffer Underrun Proof Technology ...................... 40
Advantages of VariRec Technology ............................................. 41
How the Default VariRec Setting Is Determined ...................... 41
Changing the VariRec Setting................................................... 42
When You Write with VariRec................................................. 42
Advantages of Overburn ............................................................... 42
4. Maintenance and Troubleshooting ............................................ 43
Cleaning the PX-708A Drive ........................................................ 43
Upgrading Firmware ..................................................................... 44
Troubleshooting ............................................................................ 44
Emergency Eject ........................................................................... 44
Using the Self-Test Diagnostics.................................................... 45
Performing the Self-Test ........................................................... 46
What the Self-Test Results Indicate .......................................... 48
Appendix A: PX-708A Specifications............................................ 49
Appendix B: Technical Support .................................................... 59
How to Contact Plextor Technical Support................................... 60
Before You E-mail/Log On/FAX/Call for Support....................... 60
Returns .......................................................................................... 61
Contacting Plextor’s RMA Department .................................... 61
Packing Your Drive................................................................... 62
Shipping Your Drive to Plextor ................................................ 62
Appendix C: Warranty................................................................... 63
If You’re Outside the U.S. or Canada ........................................... 64
Index................................................................................................. 65
vi PX-708A Installation and Users Manual

1. Getting Started
Congratulations! Thank you for purchasing the Plextor® PX-708A, a
reliable, high-performance recordable DVD and CD writer, rewriter, and
player. We appreciate the confidence you have shown in us. Our goal is
to put you—and keep you—on the leading edge of DVD and CD
technology.
About this Manual

Please read this manual carefully and keep it handy for easy reference.
Use the manual for installation, operation and troubleshooting. If your
drive needs service, see your dealer or call Plextor’s Technical Support
Department.
In this manual you should find all the information you need to
successfully install, operate and troubleshoot your drive. If you run into
a problem that doesn't seem to be covered, however, please contact us.
(See “Appendix B: Technical Support” for the different ways you can
reach us.) You will be connected to our friendly, helpful band of tech
support engineers. What might seem like an uncooperative drive to you
could very well be a 30-second fix to them. But we will never know
unless you contact us.
PX-708A Installation and Users Manual 1

Section 1. Getting Started
Meet Your PX-708A

The PX-708A is a DVD ReWritable/CD ReWritable drive that provides
professional quality DVD and CD performance for writing, rewriting
and reading.
What the PX-708A Does

For DVDs, the PX-708A:
• Writes DVD+R (recordable DVD, “plus” format) media at up to 8X
speed.
• Writes DVD-R (recordable DVD, “minus” format) media at up to
4X speed.
• Writes DVD+RW (re-writable DVD, “plus format”) media at up to
4X speed.
• Writes DVD-RW (re-writable DVD, “minus format”) media at up to
2X speed.
• Supports DVD+VR real time editing.
• Reads DVD discs at up to 12X.
• Reads DVD-Video discs at 5X-12X (single layer discs) or 3X-8X
(dual layer) discs.
• Supports DVD+RW background format.
For CDs, the PX-708A:

• Writes to CD-R (recordable CD) media at up to 40X speed.
• Writes to CD-RW (re-writable CD) media at up to 24X speed.
• Reads all CD-ROM, CD-RW, and CD-R data media at a maximum
of 40X speed.
• Reads CD-DA (audio) and CD-R audio media at up to 40X speed.
• Reads CD-RW audio media at up to 32X speed.
2 PX-708A Installation and Users Manual

Features of the PX-708A

• ATAPI interface: Easily installs in virtually any PC with an E-IDE
ATAPI interface.
• High speed transfers: Supports Ultra DMA33, DMA Mode 2, and
PIO Mode 4.
• PoweRec: Plextor Optimized Writing Error Reduction Control
(PoweRec) adjusts laser power and writing speed so they’re at the
optimum settings for that particular disc. (For example, when you’re
writing a DVD, PoweRec checks to see if the maximum 8X speed is
possible, and sets the optimum write speed.) You can enable and
disable PoweRec.
• MMC compliance: Supports the MMC-4 command set.
• Flash memory: Allows upgrading the PX-708A to the latest
firmware revision (available from the Plextor web site) without
opening the computer or physically accessing the drive.
• Black tray: Reduces the effect of optical distortion by absorbing
reflections from the laser beam, enhancing read quality.
• Plug and Play: Supports Windows Plug and Play.
• Self-test diagnostics: The PX-708A has a self-test diagnostic

function for easy troubleshooting.
DVD Features
• Lossless linking for DVD+RW: Allows DVD+RW discs to be edited
and still play on DVD-ROM players.
• Zero Link for DVD-RW: Has 0 byte gap between sessions so the
discs are compatible with all players. This allows DVD-RW discs to
be edited and still play on DVD-ROM players.
• Wide DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW media compatibility: Compatible
with a wide range of DVD±R and DVD±RW media.

• Multiple DVD types: Supports DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, multi-

border, multi-session, DVD+VR, for read and write; supports DVD-
VR for read only.
• Versatile recording modes: Including sequential write, multi session,
random access write.
• SpeedRead/silent operation: For DVD-Video discs equipped with
CSS copy protection, you can set DVD playback speed for fast
playback (SpeedRead) or leave at the factory default for silent
operation.
• Mount Rainier: DVD+MRW (Mount Rainier) physical formatting in
background is supported.
CD-R and CD-RW Features
• Variety of recording modes: Supports track-at-once, disc-at-once,
session-at-once, multi-session, variable and fixed packet writing, and
CD-MRW (Mount Rainier).
• Buffer Underrun Proof Technology: Eliminates buffer underrun
errors, so you can safely use your computer for other tasks while
you’re writing to a CD-R or CD-RW disc.
• Wide compatibility: Wide CD-R and CD-RW media compatibility.
• Orange Book compatibility: Compatible with Orange Book, Parts II
and III.
• UDF support: UDF file system implemented through packet writing.
• OPC and ROPC: Optimum Power Control and Running Optimum
Power Control, which adjust the laser power for the optimum write
strategy.
• VariRec: Lets you record at low speeds (4X or 8X) for highest
quality, while providing user adjustment of the recording power
above or below a default level. This adjustment lets you customize
the optimum laser power to your own needs.
• CD-TEXT, CD+G: Supports CD-TEXT and CD+G writing.

• Overburn: Lets you burn more information on a standard disc—

audio up to 99 minutes 59 seconds in length, or a data disc up to 875
MB in capacity.
Minimum Configuration to Use the PX-708A

Here’s what you’ll need in order to install and use the PX-708A drive.
• Computer: Pentium III 700-MHz CPU or faster.
• Minimum RAM: 128 MB.
• Interface: IDE ATAPI interface.
• Hard disk size: To write to a CD in image mode (that is, to write an
image of a CD to your hard disk), you need 1 GB of free space. For a
DVD, 6 GB of free space is recommended. (For more accurate
guidelines, see the help files or documentation for the recording
software you’re using.)
• Operating System: Windows XP, 2000, Me, 98SE.
NOTE: You cannot use the PX-708A with early versions of Windows 98;
if you are using Windows 98, it must be Windows 98SE (Second Edition).
What You Can Do with the PX-708A

Just look at some of the things you can do with your PX-708A:
• Record slide shows or digital video onto DVD+R, -R, +RW and
-RW discs.
• Play DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, and DVD-RW discs.
• Record data or audio onto writable or rewritable CD media.
• Play music CDs.
• Save photos and other images on rewritable or writable CDs.
• Create a CD or DVD “sneakernet” to share information with
colleagues—just use software such as Roxio’s DirectCD to drag and
drop files onto DVD+R, DVD+RW, CD-R or CD-RW media, then
continue adding files and sharing the same disc.
• Archive images and video to DVD or CD.
• Master new software programs on DVD or CD.

What’s In the Box

What you find in your Plextor box depends on what the company that
sold you the box put in—or took out—while the Plextor drive was in
their possession. Plextor currently sells the PX-708A drive in this
configuration:
• PX-708A DVD±R/RW and
CD-R/RW drive
• 40-pin IDE ribbon cable
• 4 mounting screws
• Extra jumper
• Emergency eject tool
• 1 piece of approved DVD+R media
• Plextor DVD with bundled software for writing DVDs and CDs
• PX-708A Installation and Users Manual
If the security sticker on

top of your box is cut,
there may be a good Save Your Box!
reason: for example, a Be sure to save the box after you have
dealer may have added installed your drive. The box and its
other components or packaging material were designed and
software. Carefully check drop tested to ensure your can endure
the contents to ensure rough treatment and still arrive in
nothing has been working order. If you have to ship your
removed. If something is drive back to Plextor, you’ll want to
missing, contact the party send it in the original box. (For more
from whom you details about returning your drive to
purchased the box for an Plextor, see page 61.)
explanation.
NOTE: This applies to the Plextor retail box. Your drive may have been
shipped in a different box with other contents, depending on whom you
purchased the drive from and what they included inside the box.
If your drive came pre-installed, some or all of the items above may
have been installed and may not be separately available. See the Plextor
web site for locations to purchase additional or replacement accessories.

PX-708A Drive Features and Controls

Before proceeding, you should become familiar with the controls and
features of your Plextor drive. Match the parts of your drive to the
illustrations below.
Front Panel—PX-708A Internal Drive
Figure 1: Front panel of the PX-708A internal ATAPI drive

• LED indicator: Illuminated yellow for disc initializing, reading, and
ejecting. Illuminated amber for writing. (Blink rate indicates writing
speed.) Illuminated green during standby and when Buffer Underrun
Proof Technology is operational.
• Tray front door: Attached to tray drawer.
• Emergency eject hole: If the automatic eject button does not work,
insert the emergency eject tool, paper clip, or other thin, rigid object
in this hole to eject tray. Turn OFF power before using this feature.
• Headphone jack: Stereo mini-jack for headphones and powered
speakers.
• Volume control: Controls volume of headphone jack.

NOTE: The volume control on the front panel of your drive adjusts only
the sound level of the headphone jack. It has no impact on the volume
level of the rear panel audio outputs.
• Eject button: Push once to eject tray. Push again to insert the tray
back into the PX-708A. To prevent wear on the drive, always use the
eject button to insert the tray.
This button also controls SpeedRead and silent operation for DVD-
Video discs with CSS protection. To enable SpeedRead, with the
disc tray empty, press and hold the eject button for 3 seconds, then
insert a DVD-Video disc. The disc is played back at an accelerated
speed.
Rear Panel—PX-708A Internal Drive
Figure 2: Rear panel of the PX-708A internal ATAPI drive

• Digital audio output connector: Outputs a digital stereo signal. Use
this to connect to a sound board that supports Sony/Philips Digital
Interface (SPDIF) or Digital-In.

• Analog audio output connector: Outputs an analog stereo signal.

Use this to connect to a sound board or audio amplifier. Use a
standard MPC-3 type, 4-pin connector.
• Mode jumper: Use the mode jumper to select operation as an IDE
master or slave, or for cable select. In general, leave this jumper at
its factory setting, which is master; and ensure that any other device
on the bus is jumpered as slave.
• DMA jumper: Use the DMA jumper to convert between Ultra
DMA Mode 0-2 (no jumper, default) and Multiword DMA Mode 0-2
(with jumper installed). In general, leave this jumper at its factory
setting, which is Ultra DMA (that is, no jumper installed).
• IDE cable connector: Connects to your computer’s IDE (ATAPI)
interface using 40-pin IDE flat ribbon cable.
• Power connector: Connects to your computer’s power supply to
provide DC +5 volts and +12 volts to the PX-708A.
About Software
In order to record on DVD±R/RW and CD-R/RW discs you will need to
have mastering, packet writing, or duplication software installed on your
computer system. If you purchased a retail kit from Plextor, you’ll get
software packages that include such software.
You can use Roxio’s Easy CD Creator DVD Edition to burn both DVDs
and CDs. The software lets you burn and share anything on CD or DVD,
including music, photos, and videos. You can also back up your critical
data to a CD or DVD.
One component of Easy CD Creator is DirectCD, which makes the
Plextor PX-708A drive as easy to use as a hard disk drive. You can drag
and drop files, rename files, delete files, and create new directories right
on the recordable CD or DVD disc. You can even save files directly
from your word processing software, spreadsheet, or other application
directly to the disc. (For more information about Easy CD Creator,
install this application and examine the help files.)

For details on other software packages that are available for writing to
DVDs or CDs, please visit the web sites of the companies whose
software you are interested in, refer to their user’s manuals, or look at
the help option within the software. A list of various software packages
that you can use with your Plextor drive can be found in the
Support/Compatibility section of www.plextor.com.
Precautions
Like the rest of your computer system, your PX-708A requires
reasonable care in its installation and use.
• Keep the area around your drive clean from dust, smoke, and other
contaminants.
• Do not allow moisture or liquids, including water or cleaning fluids,
to touch the drive. Thinner, benzene, or alcohol-based solvents can
mar your drive’s surface.
• Do not drop or jolt the drive.
• Do not attempt to open the drive and service it yourself. Removing
the cover may expose you to harmful electrical voltages or the laser
beam. For your safety, entrust service to experienced service
personnel only.
• Keep your DVDs and CDs free of dirt or other contaminants, by
storing them in jewel cases. Use only industry-standard discs. Do not
insert dirty, warped, poorly balanced, or cracked discs into the drive.
• Do not clean discs using a circular motion. Instead, using a soft, dry
cloth, wipe gently in a radial motion; start at the center of the disc
and proceed to the outer edge.
• Do not attempt to clean your drive using solvent-based cleaners or an
air compressor.
• Do not attempt to clean your drive using a CD cleaning disc. These
discs can damage your drive permanently.

2. Installing Your PX-708A Internal Drive
This chapter explains how to physically install your PX-708A in your
computer. The steps you'll need to do are as follows:
1. Turn OFF your computer system.
2. Set the jumpers for your new PX-708A drive, if necessary.
3. Mount the drive into an available drive bay inside the computer
system.
4. Make all necessary cabling connections: IDE cable, power cable, and
audio cable.
5. Turn your computer system ON.
The following pages give more details for this procedure.
QuickStart Installation—For Experienced PC

Users Only
If you’ve installed computer peripherals before, use this QuickStart
installation to get up and running quickly.
Typical Scenario 1: You have a PC with an IDE interface installed,
you have Windows 98SE, Me, XP, or 2000, and you have nothing
installed on the secondary IDE port. What to do: Leave the
PX-708A’s jumper set to Master, attach it to the secondary IDE port,
and go. Windows will recognize the drive automatically.
Typical Scenario 2: You have a PC with an IDE interface installed,
you have Windows 98SE, Me, XP, or 2000, the primary IDE port
already has two devices connected and you have a CD-ROM
installed on the secondary IDE port. What to do: Change the CD-
ROM to Slave, leave the PX-708A’s jumper set to Master and attach
the PX-708A to the secondary IDE port. Windows recognizes the
new drive automatically.
If neither of these situations applies to you, or you’re not comfortable
with IDE installation, read the rest of this chapter for more detailed
installation instructions.

Section 2. Installing Your PX-708A Internal Drive
Open the Computer and Prepare for

Installation
To determine whether your PX-708A will be a Master or a Slave, open
your computer and examine the IDE connections to the motherboard.
To open the computer:

1. Before proceeding, make sure the power to your computer and any
external peripherals is OFF and your computer is UNPLUGGED
from its power source.
2. Remove your computer’s cover, following the directions provided by

your computer’s manufacturer. Typically, this involves loosening or
removing several screws on the back panel of your computer and
sliding off the cover. See Figure 3 for an example.
Figure 3: Removing a typical computer's cover
Determine Your Existing IDE Configuration

With your computer open, determine the existing IDE configuration.
You can do this by looking at the 40-pin IDE ribbon cable (or cables—
there may be two) and seeing what is connected to them.

One end of the IDE cable is connected to a port on the computer’s

motherboard; and the other end is connected to one or two peripheral
devices (such as a hard disk or CD-ROM drive). If there are two
devices, one is configured as Master and the other the Slave, as
indicated by the position of jumpers on the back of the drive.
In the case of the Cable Select bus, both devices must be jumpered as
Cable Select. This configuration requires a special Cable Select cable.
If there are two IDE ports, one is for the primary IDE bus and the other
is for the secondary bus.
Before you install your PX-708A, your computer’s IDE configuration is

usually one of the following:
• Configuration A: Hard disks connected as Master and Slave devices
on primary IDE port; CD-ROM drive connected as the Master
device on secondary IDE port.
• Configuration B: Hard disk connected as Master device and DVD
or CD-ROM drive connected as Slave on the primary IDE port;
nothing connected to secondary IDE port.
• Configuration C: Hard disk connected as Master device on primary
IDE port; nothing connected to secondary IDE port.
• Configuration D: System uses special “Cable Select” cables; all
devices are jumpered for Cable Select.
Set the Drive’s Mode Jumper

You specify your drive's Master, Slave, or Cable Select setting before
installing it. You do this by changing the position of a jumper on the
mode jumper block at the rear of the drive.
Your drive ships from our factory with its mode jumper set to operate
the PX-708A as a Master. This will work in most custom system
configurations. If your computer is from a large OEM system
manufacturer such as IBM, Hewlett Packard, Gateway or Compaq, you
will need to pay particular attention to whether the computer uses the
Cable Select scheme.

Changing the Mode Jumper on Your PX-708A

Drive
The drive arrives from the factory with its mode jumper set to Master.
(A function is ON if the jumper is installed and OFF if the jumper is
removed.)
Figure 4: Factory settings for mode jumper at the rear

of the internal drive

Changing to a Master, Slave, or Cable Select

The Master/Slave/Cable Select setting for the drive is determined by the
mode jumper. The jumper is placed over one of the sets of mode pins.
To change the drive from Master to Slave or to Cable Select, you must
move the jumper.
For example, to change the drive to be a Slave, move the jumper to the
right set of mode pins, leaving the other pins uncovered. To change the
drive for Cable Select, move the jumper to the left set of mode pins.
Note that if any device is jumpered as Cable Select, then both devices
connected to that cable must be jumpered as Cable Select. In addition,
the cable you use must be a special Cable Select cable.
Changing Jumper Settings

• To remove a jumper, pull it off with your fingers or a pair of needle-
nose pliers.
• To install a jumper, push it onto the jumper pins.
CAUTION: Ensure power to the drive is OFF before installing or

removing a jumper.
Figure 5: Install the mode jumper across vertical pairs of pins
CAUTION: Install the mode jumper across the pins as shown (vertically).
Do not connect one pin switch to another by installing the jumper
lengthwise (horizontally). Doing so could result in damage to the drive.

Select an IDE Configuration

Set the jumper according to the desired configuration, as shown in the
tables and illustrations on the next few pages.
NOTE: For best CD-RW performance, try to connect the PX-708A to the
IDE port that is not connected to the hard disk drive or to a CD-ROM
drive. In most cases, this will be the secondary IDE port.
NOTE: For best results, set the PX-708A to be the Master, if possible.
Before PX-708A Installation How to Install the PX-708A

A Hard disks connected as Remove the CD-ROM drive,
Master and Slave devices on change it to Slave, and re-
primary IDE port; CD-ROM connect it to the secondary IDE
connected as Master device on port.
secondary IDE port.
Set the mode jumper to Master,
and connect the PX-708A as
Master device to the secondary
IDE port.
Figure 6. How to install the PX-708A if your computer is originally

set up in configuration A

NOTE: The configuration shown in Figure 6 can make it very difficult to

write from the CD-ROM to the PX-708A at maximum rated speed using
“on-the-fly” copying.
System configuration and performance will make a big difference.

Depending on how fast the CD-ROM drive can stream data to the
PX-708A, it may not be fast enough to keep the buffer full. In this case,
the buffer may become empty and a buffer underrun error may occur.
However, because it is equipped with Buffer Underrun Proof Technology,
your PX-708A can still make successful copies if you use software that
supports this feature. (All software shipped with PX-708A drive retail kits
supports Buffer Underrun Proof Technology.)
If you still have problems writing with this configuration, use the image
writing method (that is, write an image to your hard drive, then write that
image onto the CD-R or CD-RW media), or record at a lower speed for
best results. We also recommend that DMA be enabled on your
computer, if your system supports it.


B Hard disk connected as Master Set the mode jumper to Master,
device, and CD-ROM or DVD- and connect the PX-708A as
ROM drive connected as Slave Master to secondary IDE port.
on the primary IDE port;
nothing connected to
secondary IDE port.
Figure 7. How to install the PX-708A if your computer is originally

set up in configuration B


C Hard disk connected as Master Set the mode jumper to Master,
device on primary IDE port; and connect the PX-708A as
nothing connected to Master to secondary IDE port.
secondary IDE port.
Figure 8. How to install the PX-708A if your computer is originally set

up in configuration C


D System uses special Cable Set the PX-708A’s mode
Select cables; all devices are jumper to CSEL, and connect
jumpered for Cable Select. the drive to the end of the cable
from the computer’s IDE
interface connector.
Figure 9: How to install the PX-708A if your computer is originally set

up in configuration D

About Cable Select

The Cable Select jumper position sets the PX-708A drive to use the
CSEL signal from the IDE interface for configuration purposes. This
signal automatically selects the correct Master/Slave setting for the
drive.
Figure 10: Configuring the PX-708A drive for Cable Select
To use CSEL, you must have:

• A computer that supports CSEL.
• A special CSEL (Cable Select) cable for IDE.
NOTE: The IDE cable supplied by Plextor does not support CSEL. To
use CSEL and Cable Select, you’ll have to purchase a CSEL cable, or
use one that may be supplied with your CSEL-configured system.

Identifying Whether Your System Uses Cable

Select
If you are unsure whether or not your system has a Cable Select cable
installed, either look at the cable (see Figure 13) or look at the jumpers
on the CD-ROM drive. If any device is jumpered as Cable Select, then
both devices on that cable should be jumpered the same.
Locating the Master Position on a Cable Select

Cable
With Cable Select, Master and Slave are determined not by jumpers, but
by the connectors on the Cable Select cable. The connectors are
identified as Master or Slave.
Set the DMA Jumper

Your PX-708A ships from the factory with no DMA jumper installed.
(The pins are empty.) The empty pins mean the drive is set to Ultra
DMA. This setting should work in most cases, so you don’t have to do
anything more.
With some (generally older) personal computers that do not have an

Ultra DMA IDE chipset, the computer may “hang” or crash with the
PX-708A set to the default Ultra DMA setting. If this happens, change
the PX-708A to Multiword DMA mode by installing the spare jumper
across the two DMA jumper pins just to the left of the mode jumper
pins.

Figure 11: Add the DMA jumper if you need to change

to Multiword DMA

Install the PX-708A Drive

Before proceeding to install the PX-708A drive in your personal
computer, double-check your jumper setting.
Record the Serial Number

Record the serial number and TLA code of your drive on the inside front
cover of this manual.
Mount the Drive in the Computer

You can mount your internal drive in any available bay. You must
remove the small panel that covers the bay that you want to use.
NOTE: The drive can be mounted horizontally or vertically
If you don’t have an empty bay, remove the existing IDE CD-ROM
drive and install the PX-708A.
You must make a minimum of two cable connections to your PX-708A.

The two cable connections that you must make are:
• IDE cable
• Power cable
There are also two optional cable connections:

• An analog audio cable connection if you are using a sound board in
your computer and plan to connect the PX-708A’s audio output to
the audio connector on the sound board.
• A digital audio cable connection if the sound board is equipped with
SPDIF or Digital-In and you wish to use the digital audio output
from your PX-708A.
Do You Need Another IDE Ribbon Cable?

An IDE cable is a standard 40-pin flat-ribbon cable, usually with three
connectors. One end connects to the IDE port on your computer’s
motherboard, and the other two connectors are free for attaching
peripherals such as a hard disk, CD-ROM drive, or a PX-708A drive.

You may need to install another IDE ribbon cable in your computer.
You can use the extra IDE cable supplied with your Plextor drive. (Just
remember, if you want to use CSEL and Cable Select settings, this
Plextor-supplied cable won’t work—you’ll have to purchase a special
cable for Cable Select.)
Figure 12: Standard IDE ribbon cable
Figure 13: Ribbon cable for Cable Select (not supplied by Plextor)
CAUTION: The length of any IDE cable cannot exceed 18 inches.
Do You Need a Power Cable?

In most computers, you will find extra power connectors in the
computer ready for your use. When you open the computer, check the
cable running from your power supply to your hard disk drive and see if
it has extra connectors on it. If so, you can plug one of these into the
power connector found on the rear panel of the PX-708A.
If you do not find any additional connectors (either because they were
not supplied or they are all in use), you will have to buy a “splitter” or a
“Y-connector.” These can also be found at most retail and mail-order
computer stores.

To mount the PX-708A drive:

1. Make sure the power to your computer and any external peripherals
is turned OFF and your computer is UNPLUGGED from its power
source.
2. If you haven't already removed the cover from your computer,

remove it now, following the directions provided by your computer’s
manufacturer. Typically, this involves loosening or removing several
screws on the back panel of your computer and sliding off the cover.
See Figure 3 for details.
3. Remove the cover panel from the bay that will hold the drive. To
remove the cover panel, pop it out by pressing outward lightly. (In
some older computers, you may have to remove screws that hold the
panel in place.)
Figure 14: Removing the cover panel from a bay

4. Determine if you must install mounting rails on the sides of your

drive. To do so, insert the drive into the open bay. If the drive fits
tightly with little or no clearance on either side of the drive, you will
not have to use mounting rails. The drive can be mounted directly
into your computer. Go to step 6.
NOTE: Plextor does not provide rails. If you need rails, you can
obtain them from the computer manufacturer or from a computer
supply retail or mail-order store.
5. If you must use mounting rails, fasten the rails to the lower pair of
holes as shown in Figure 15. (In some instances, you may need to
fasten the rails to the upper set of holes.) After fastening the rails,
check their positioning by sliding the drive into the bay before you
mount the drive or connect any cables.
Figure 15: Installing mounting rails (if needed)

6. Plug one connector of the IDE cable into the IDE connector on the
rear panel of the drive before you insert the drive into your
computer. Then thread the cable through the front of the open bay
and back toward the motherboard. The drive should slide smoothly
into the bay. If it does not, check for obstructions in the bay and
ensure the side rails are attached properly.
7. If not already connected, attach the other end of the IDE ribbon cable
to the connector on the motherboard.
Figure 16: Connecting the IDE ribbon cable

CAUTION: With some IDE ribbon cables, it is easy to accidentally
plug your IDE cable upside down into both your drive and the
motherboard. Be sure you match the red stripe along one side of the
IDE cable to Pin 1 on the motherboard and Pin 1 on the drive. (Pin 1
on the drive is closest to the power connector.) Note that each
connector on most ribbon cables also has a “key” in the middle. This
key should fit into a slot in the middle of each connector of the
motherboard, your PX-708A drive, and any other internal IDE
peripherals.
8. Double-check your work. You must ensure the side of the IDE cable
with the red stripe is matched to Pin 1 on the interface board and on
the drive.
CAUTION: In the case of only one IDE device, you must make
certain that one end of the cable is always connected to the IDE
connector on the motherboard. The other end of the connector must
be connected to a device. The end connector of the cable should
never be left unconnected.

9. Connect a power cable from the computer to the power connector

(DC INPUT) of the drive. In most computers, you will find free
power connectors that are ready for your use.
CAUTION: The power connector on the cable and the receptacle on

the drive are keyed. Do not force the power connector into the drive,
or the drive and/or the computer may be damaged.
Figure 17: Cable connections for an internal IDE drive
10. Connect the analog audio cable if you want to use a sound board in
your system. This cable runs from the four-pin analog audio output
connector on the rear panel of your drive to the CD-ROM audio
connector on the PC or your sound board. See “Using Sound Boards
and Audio Cables” below for more information about audio cables.

11. Connect a digital audio cable if your sound board is equipped with
the Sony/Philips Digital Interface (SPDIF) or Digital-In, and you
wish to use the digital audio output from your PX-708A. This cable
runs from the digital audio output connector pins on the PX-708A
back panel to the sound board. (This cable is not supplied by
Plextor.)
12. Mount the PX-708A drive in the computer using the four screws that
were supplied with your drive. Use only these screws.
CAUTION: Do not mount your drive in your computer using screws other
than those supplied by Plextor. You may damage the drive if you insert
screws that are too long or the wrong thread type.
Using Sound Boards and Audio Cables

Whichever category your sound board falls into, you will find that the
best source of information about installing the sound board in your
computer is the board's manual. Once you have successfully installed the
sound board in your computer, you can continue below for a description
of the different cable connections that need to be made.
If you need audio cables, you will have to purchase them. Refer to the
table below. A list of several vendors who offer audio cables is available
on Plextor’s web site.

Audio Connection Cable How to Connect It

Required
MPC audio source MPC- Connect to MPC audio
compliant source, and to analog audio
audio cable output connector at the rear
of the Plextor drive.
Sound Blaster or Sound Connect to Sound Blaster-

compatible sound Blaster- compatible audio board and
board compatible to analog audio output
analog audio connector at the rear of the
cable Plextor drive.
Digital audio output Cable that’s Connect to SPDIF or Digital-

compatible In connector on sound
with SPDIF board (if sound board
or Digital-In. supports digital audio) and
to digital audio output
connector at the rear of the
Plextor drive.
Make Sure the Drive Is Recognized

After installation, make sure the PX-708A drive and other IDE
peripherals are recognized by your computer. To check whether they are
recognized:
To see if the drive is recognized in Windows:

1. Turn the computer ON. After the computer boots up, you should see
the Windows display.
2. Open Windows Explorer or My Computer and ensure there is an

icon for the Plextor drive, the hard disk, and another CD-ROM drive,
if present. The Plextor icon may be D: or E: or another designator.

3. If the PX-708A drive is not recognized in Windows, reboot the

computer and use your computer’s setup program to program the
BIOS to recognize it.
NOTE: Refer to the computer’s documentation for information on how to

run the motherboard BIOS setup program.
4. Use the motherboard BIOS setup program to set up IDE Master and
Slave designations, as needed for your configuration, on the primary
or secondary IDE bus. If the IDE interface is disabled on your
computer, you will need to enable it. If a Master or Slave device is
set to “disable” or “none” or a similar designation, change it as
appropriate to “enable” or “auto” (or something similar, depending
on your setup program).
5. Save and exit your CMOS setup to restart your computer with the
new settings.
6. In Windows 98SE, or Me, once the system comes up click the Start
button, then Settings, then Control Panel, then double-click on
System icon, then click on Device Manager tab. Click the + sign
next to the CD-ROM heading and look at the “PLEXTOR DVDR
PX-708A” entry underneath.
-or-
In Windows 2000 or XP, right-click on the My Computer icon and
select Properties. Click on the Hardware tab, then click on the
Device Manager button. Click the + sign next to the CD-ROM
heading and look at the “PLEXTOR DVDR PX-708A” entry
underneath.
If you do not see this drive listed as one of the devices, or if it has a
yellow diamond with an exclamation point (!), contact Plextor Technical
Support. (See “Appendix B: Technical Support” for the different ways
you can contact us.)

3. Using Your PX-708A
This chapter explains how to use your drive and how to load, handle and
care for your CDs.
What Media to Use

Use the right media! Your PX-708A drive's capabilities change
depending on which type of compact disc you use.
DVD Media
DVD recordable media is available in two different, non-compatible
formats:
• DVD+R and DVD+RW
• DVD-R and DVD-RW
Your PX-708A can read and write either media format. That is, it
supports all these types of DVD media:
• Digital Video Discs: You can immediately play pre-recorded DVD
discs, including movies and other DVDs.
• DVD+R, DVD-R: Recordable DVD. You can record on these discs,
but only once. You can also read them.
• DVD+RW, DVD-RW: ReWritable DVD. You can record and re-
record (up to 1,000 times) on these discs. You can also read them.
CD-ROM Media
In addition, the PX-708A supports these types of CD media:
• CD-ROM: You can immediately play or read prerecorded compact
discs, such as audio CDs and data discs.
• CD-R: Recordable CD. You can record on these discs, but only
once. You can also read them.
• CD-RW: Normal Speed, High Speed, and Ultra Speed ReWritable
CD. These discs support recording and re-recording (up to 1,000
times). You can also read them.

Section 3. Using Your PX-708A
To achieve a certain writing speed, you must use the appropriate media.
To achieve 40X CD-R writing speed you must use certified 40X media;
and to achieve 24X RW writing speed you must use Ultra Speed RW
media.
Remember:
• Using Normal Speed (NS-RW) media you can rewrite at 4X.
• Using High Speed (HS-RW) media, you can rewrite at 10X.
• Using Ultra Speed (US-RW) media in this drive, you can rewrite at
up to 24X.
You can write to Ultra Speed RW discs only on drives that support this
media. Drives that are capable of writing to Ultra Speed ReWritable
media, such as the Plextor PX-708A, are identified by a “Compact Disc
ReWritable Ultra Speed” logo.
Figure 18: The logo identifies the type of CD-RW media
See “Recommended Media” on page 49 for a list of Plextor-approved

media at the time this manual was printed, and see the Plextor web site
at www.plextor.com for an updated list.

Tray Loading and Operation

To load and unload the tray:
1. While the drive is powered up, push the eject button on the front
panel. The tray drawer slides out in 3–4 seconds.
Figure 19: Loading the tray
2. Lay a CD or DVD disc in the depression in the tray, label side up.
3. Press the eject button again and the tray will slide shut within
seconds.
NOTE: Always use the eject button to close the tray in a smooth and
secure manner. Closing the tray by pressing the front of the drawer by
hand is not recommended and risks damage or premature wearing of the
mechanism.
Handling DVD and CD Media

Take care when handling blank CD and DVD media. Dust, scratches,
and fingerprints on either side of the disc can cause write errors during
recording. When picking up or holding blank media you can either place
your fingers along the outer edge of the disc, or place one finger through
the center hole and one finger on the outer edge. Once you have finished
creating a disc, label it by writing on the top using permanent ink.
CAUTION: We recommend using a “non-toxic” marker, such as a

Sharpie pen, that conforms to the ASTM D-4236 standard. Some
permanent markers will damage the media. Also, do not press too hard
when writing on the disc.

NOTE: We do not recommend placing self-sticking CD-R labels on the

disc. The weight of the label may unbalance the disc and cause write
errors during recording or read errors during reading. Also, attempting to
remove the label may permanently damage the disc.
Cleaning Discs
For proper read and write performance, your discs must be clean. Trying
to record on a dirty disc may result in a failed session and ruin the disc.
To clean the disc, wipe the disc using a clean, soft cotton cloth to
remove surface dirt such as fingerprints. Use a straight-line motion,
wiping from the center out. Do not wipe the disc in a circular motion.
Figure 20: Wipe the disc from the center outward
HINT: Keep your frequently used discs in jewel cases at all times to
prevent them from becoming dirty or damaged.
Mounting Position
You can operate your internal PX-708A drive in either a horizontal or a
vertical position.

Playing DVDs
To play a digital video disc, insert the DVD as you would any other
disc. The drive plays both single-layer and dual-layer discs.
The first time: A code on each DVD allows it to be played only on

players designed for a certain regional area, such as North America,
Europe, etc. When the drive ships there is no region code set. The first
time a DVD that has a region setting is inserted into the drive, the drive
is automatically set to that region code.
If you later insert a DVD with a different region code, you are prompted
to either accept changing the region code or not. If you don’t accept the
change, then that DVD will not play. If you do accept the change, then
the region code setting is changed. But remember: you can change the
drive’s region code only 5 times. After that, you can’t change it any
more.
Writing to DVD Media

You need special software that supports writing to DVD+R and
DVD+RW discs: or to DVD-R and DVD-RW discs. The Roxio Easy
CD Creator DVD Edition on the CD that accompanies your PX-708A
contains this software.
Specifying +R/RW or -R/RW

You don’t need to specify whether to write to +R/RW or -R/RW. The
selection is automatically made for you, based on the media you insert in
the drive.
Which Should I Choose?

Which is better, DVD+R and DVD+RW? Or DVD-R and DVD-RW?
Neither is “better” or “worse.” They’re just different standards, like
English versus metric measurement.

Different manufacturers support different standards. The DVD+R and

DVD+RW formats are supported by Plextor, Philips, Sony, Hewlett-
Packard, Dell, Ricoh, Yamaha and other manufacturers. DVD-R, DVD-
RW and DVD-RAM are also supported by Plextor, as well as Panasonic,
Toshiba, Apple Computer, Hitachi, NEC, Pioneer, Samsung and Sharp.
No matter which format a DVD disc is recorded in, it can be read by

most commercial DVD-ROM players.
Writing to CD-R and CD-RW Media

In conjunction with your drive, mastering and packet writing software
such as Easy CD Creator and DirectCD allow you to write audio, video,
data, or other information to writable (CD-R) or rewritable (CD-RW)
media. The PX-708A writes to all types of CD-RW media.
Using the LED Indicator

The color and blink rate of the front-panel LED indicator give you
information about the drive’s operation.
LED Color
PX-708A Status Front-panel LED LED On or Off
Indicator Color
No disc - Off
Eject Yellow On
Loading - Off
Initialize Yellow On
Standby Green On
Read Yellow On
Write Blinking amber On
CD writing with Buffer Green or blinking On
Underrun Proof green
Technology
DVD Lossless Linking Green or blinking On
or Zero Link green

LED Blink Rate

When you are writing to a CD-R or CD-RW disc, the color and blink
rate of the front-panel LED indicator indicate the speed of writing, as
follows:
LED blink CD-R write CD-RW write DVD write

interval in speed speed speed
milliseconds
Amber, 40X, 32X CD-R 24X CD-RW 8X (Z-CLV)
40-ms interval (CLV area) (CLV area)
Amber, 40X, 32X CD-R 24X CD-RW 4X (CLV)

80-ms interval (CAV area): (CAV area);
16X CD-R (CLV) 10X CD-RW
(CLV)
Amber, 8X, 4X CD-R 4X CD-RW 2.4X, 2X
150-ms (CLV) (CLV) (CLV)
interval
Switching Between SpeedRead and Silent

Operation
When you are playing a DVD-Video disc that has CSS (copy protection
via the Content Scrambling System), the PX-708A normally plays at a
slow speed (silent operation) to reduce drive noise. You can speed up
DVD playback by using the eject button to enable SpeedRead.
To manually enable SpeedRead and speed up DVD playback:
1. Ensure the PX-708A disc tray is closed and empty.
2. Press and hold the PX-708A’s eject button for at least 3 seconds. The
LED indicator blinks green three times to indicate SpeedRead will
be active for DVD-Video discs with CSS copy protection.
3. Release the eject button. The disc tray opens.
4. Insert a DVD-Video disc that is equipped with CSS copy protection.
5. Begin playing the disc.

SpeedRead changes the default DVD read speed to 5X-12X CAV for
single layer DVD discs, or 3X-to 8X CAV for dual layer DVD discs.
To manually disable SpeedRead:
You can manually disable SpeedRead and return to silent operation (for
DVD-Video discs with CSS) in either of two ways:
• Eject the disc.
-or-
• Turn off power to the drive.
Advantages of Buffer Underrun Proof

Technology
The PX-708A incorporates Buffer Underrun Proof Technology, which
guarantees that you can write CD-R and CD-RW discs at high speed,
and still use your computer for other tasks while you’re writing.
To prevent the interruption of data during writing, every CD-R/RW

drive has a buffer, a memory chip that acts as a kind of “holding area.”
(Typically, the buffer size is 2 MB or 4 MB.) However, this buffer can
be emptied quickly when you write at high speeds, or if you use other
applications (like surfing the Internet or playing games or watching
movies) while writing.
Buffer Underrun Proof Technology compensates for any interruption in

data flow to the disc. It “remembers” where writing stopped on the disc
when the data flow was interrupted, then restarts writing in the same
place once the data is available again. Buffer Underrun Proof
Technology in your drive means you can safely use your computer for
other things while you’re writing to a CD-R or CD-RW disc. It lets you
multitask freely and easily, and lets you successfully create CDs on the
first attempt.

Advantages of VariRec Technology

This drive is equipped with VariRec (Variable Recording) technology, a
feature offered by Plextor that allows you to manually adjust the drive's
laser power during the recording process. The drive supports VariRec
for 4X and 8X CD-DA (audio) writing and data writing with CD-R
discs.
NOTE: In order for you to actually perform the adjustment, VariRec must
be supported by the recording software you’re using.
Being able to adjust the laser power during the recording process can
have some definite advantages. For instance, depending on the
capabilities of your specific audio equipment, you may be able to
change the sound quality of your recordings to suit the equipment. Or
you may be able to correct compatibility problems that occur when
playing discs on certain players.
How the Default VariRec Setting Is Determined

In most cases you don’t have to worry about setting VariRec. The
setting is 0 (zero) by default, and this usually works best. This default
setting is determined by a combination of steps:
1. First, we test many types of CD-R and CD-RW media in our factory
to determine the best write strategy (laser power and other factors)
for that media.
2. We include a table of the tested media and their write strategy in
your drive’s firmware. (This table is updated when you update your
drive by downloading new firmware from the Plextor web site.)
3. When you insert a recordable disc into your drive, Plextor’s
PoweRec technology automatically identifies the manufacturer,
model, and special features of the media, then adjusts the laser power
and writing speed so they’re at the optimum settings for that disc.
4. The drive uses OPC (Optimum Power Control) to further fine-tune
the laser power setting to the specific disc that is in your drive.
5. The combined values of the pre-defined write strategies, along with
the OPC test results, create the default VariRec setting of zero.

Changing the VariRec Setting

VariRec lets you increase or decrease the laser power by up to 2 degrees
in either the positive or negative direction from this default. You can
change the laser power to do comparison testing with your CD player
(home, auto, or CD-ROM drives) to find the power setting that best suits
you.
Changing the laser power changes the characteristics of the audio being
written. You can hear these changes during audio playback, although
what you hear will depend on speaker quality, audio settings, and
environment.
When You Write with VariRec

VariRec writes in either Track-at-Once (TAO) or Disc-at-Once (DAO)
mode. It writes data or CD-DA (digital audio) on CD-R media at 8X or
4X speed, rather than at the full speed of the drive. For this reason, data
or audio recording using VariRec will take significantly longer than a
standard recording.
Advantages of Overburn
Overburn gives you the capability to burn an audio disc up to 99 minutes
59 seconds in length, or a data disc up to 875 MB in capacity. In order to
use the Overburn feature, you need:
• Recording software that supports Overburn.
• Player software that recognizes the Overburned disc.
• Either a 94-minute or a 99-minute disc to allow the Overburn.
Remember, even if you can Overburn a disc, your player software must
be able to recognize the Overburned disc, or you will not be able to play
it back.

4. Maintenance and Troubleshooting
This chapter explains maintenance and troubleshooting procedures for
your PX-708A drive.
With proper maintenance, you can prevent problems. If trouble arises,

you can often solve many simple problems on your own, rather than
wait for assistance from a Plextor representative.
Cleaning the PX-708A Drive

Plextor drives are sealed against external contamination, so in a normal
computer environment and with normal use, your drive should not
require internal cleaning. However, if your drive has been in use for
some time and has just recently started to exhibit read/write problems, it
is possible that dust has accumulated on the laser lens. In this case:
• If your drive is still in warranty and you are experiencing problems,
send the drive to Plextor. (See “Returns” on page 61.)
• If your drive is out of warranty, before returning the drive for repair
you may want to try a short blast of canned air aimed at the center of
the drive. Use only electronics-grade canned air: sterile, filtered, and
moisture-free. If you notice no improvements after this step, you will
need to return the drive for repair.
CAUTION: Do not attempt to clean your drive using any solvent-based

cleaners. Also, do not use an air compressor, because the high-pressure
blast can damage the drive.
ANOTHER CAUTION: Do not use a CD cleaning disc. Cleaning discs

that use a felt pad can scratch the laser lens surface and render the drive
inoperable. Cleaning discs with brushes may also scratch the lens.
Moreover, these cleaning discs are often out of balance, making their
operation very noisy.

Section 4. Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Upgrading Firmware
Plextor creates firmware revisions to meet the particular needs of large
computer manufacturers. It is rare that these will impact the performance
or operation of your drive. However, we advise that our customers
always update drives with the latest available firmware. Before
troubleshooting a possible problem with your PX-708A drive please
visit our web site at www.plextor.com to check if you have the latest
firmware.
To obtain new firmware for your drive:

1. Go to the Plextor web site at www.plextor.com.
2. Look for firmware upgrades in the Support area, on the Downloads
page. There is a description of the latest firmware revision and its
intended use.
3. Download the firmware to your computer.
To upgrade firmware in your drive’s flash memory:

1. Run the executable file that you downloaded from Plextor’s web site.
2. Accept all defaults by continuing to click on the “Next” button until
you see the message:
Firmware update has completed.
3. Restart your system.
Troubleshooting
If you have problems during or right after installation of your drive, visit
the Plextor web site to find tips to help find the problem.
Emergency Eject
If the automatic eject button at the front of the drive does not work, use
this procedure to open the drive.
To use the emergency eject hole to open the drive:
1. Make sure power to the drive is OFF. (That is, turn off your
computer.)

2. At the front of the drive, insert the emergency eject tool, or a paper
clip or other thin, rigid object, into the emergency eject hole.
3. Push the tool or other object straight in, until the disc tray clicks
open.
4. Carefully continue to slide the disc tray open.
5. Remove the CD from the disc tray.
6. Carefully push the disc tray shut.
Using the Self-Test Diagnostics

The PX-708A contains a set of self-test diagnostics that can help isolate
trouble and determine if a problem is in the drive or elsewhere.
NOTE: Using the self-test diagnostics requires opening the computer and
removing a cable from the drive, then replacing the cable at the end of
the test. If you previously installed the PX-708A in your computer, you
should have no fear of the simple procedures that are required. However,
if you’re are not comfortable with opening your PC and disconnecting
cables, you may want to let someone with more experience handle this
aspect of troubleshooting for you.
To perform the tests you’ll need:

• Tools to remove the computer’s cover
• An extra jumper (supplied)
• A blank piece of Plextor-recommended DVD+R, DVD-R, or CD-R
media. (See “Recommended Media” on page 50, or visit our web
site.) The self-test will write to this media, so you won’t be able to
use this disc again.

Performing the Self-Test

This tests three functions of the drive: writing at maximum speed,
continuous playback at maximum speed, and random access.
To perform the self-test:
1. Turn the computer’s power OFF, unplug it from its power source,
and open the computer to gain access to the rear of the PX-708A
drive. Typically, this involves loosening or removing several screws
on the back panel of your computer and sliding off the cover. (See
Figure 3 for an example.)
CAUTION: Before you attempt to open your computer be sure to
properly ground yourself by wearing an anti-static wristband. This will
help prevent static damage to your computer system.
2. You should be able to see the back of the PX-708A drive connected
to the ATAPI cable, power connector, and, optionally, an analog
sound cable.
NOTE: You may have to remove the drive from the computer to
perform the next two steps.
3. Hold the ATAPI cable at or near the base of its connection to the
PX-708A drive. Carefully remove the ATAPI cable from the drive
by pulling the cable gently rearward.
4. Note the position of the mode jumper at the rear of the PX-708A. A
jumper will be installed on either the CABLE SELECT, SLAVE, or
MASTER position. Write down this jumper position. (You’ll need to
replace the jumper after the test.) Then:
If the jumper is on the MASTER position, move it to the
SLAVE or CABLE SELECT position for this test.
If the jumper is on the SLAVE or CABLE SELECT jumper,
leave it in place.
The position of the DMA jumper (on or off) doesn’t matter.
Don’t change it.
5. Install an extra jumper so that both the CABLE SELECT and
SLAVE positions are jumpered, as shown in Figure 21.

6. If you removed the drive for access to the cable and mode jumpers,
slide it back into the computer and connect the power cable to the
drive.
7. Replace the computer’s cover and re-connect the computer’s power
cord to the power source.
CAUTION: Turning on the computer power without first replacing the
cover can be dangerous to the computer’s components and also to
you. Be aware of the danger of electric shock and do not touch any
components inside the computer.
8. While pressing the eject button on the PX-708A, turn the computer
power on. The LED indicator blinks green, then amber, and the tray
ejects.
Figure 21: Place jumpers across both the SLAVE and CABLE
SELECT pins to perform the self-test diagnostics

9. Insert a blank Plextor-recommended DVD±R or CD-R disc. Be sure

to use only media of the type recommended by Plextor.
If the LED indicator blinks amber three times, the loaded disc is
not a blank DVD±R or CD-R disc. Remove the disc and insert a
blank, Plextor-recommended DVD±R or CD-R disc.
10. The drive begins the diagnostic routine. Upon completion of the
diagnostic, you see the results:
If there was no problem, the disc is ejected automatically.
If there was a problem, the disc is not ejected, and you see the
LED indicator blink green. One green blink indicates a write or
read error. Two green blinks indicate an initialization error.
11. If the disc was not ejected automatically, press the eject button to
eject the disc.
12. Turn off the computer power.
13. Reset the mode jumper at the rear of the PX-708A to its original
setting as noted in Step 4 above. Also, remove the extra jumper you
installed.
14. Reconnect the IDE cable to the PX-708A drive. If you removed the
drive to gain access to the cable or jumpers, replace the drive in the
computer. Then replace the computer cover.
If you discover a problem with the PX-708A drive, do not attempt to
service the drive yourself. Contact us to get an RMA number and take
steps to return the drive to Plextor. See “Returns” on page 61 for details.
What the Self-Test Results Indicate

• If a drive passes the self-test, then the drive’s operation is OK.
• If the drive fails the self-test, in some cases the problem may be
caused by the media. Try the self-test again using a different brand
of DVD±R or CD-R media; if the drive passes the self-test this time,
the drive is OK.

Appendix A: PX-708A Specifications
Minimum System Requirements—PX-708A Internal ATAPI Drive

Computer Pentium III 700 MHz CPU or faster.
Minimum RAM 128 MB
Hard Disk Size 1 GB of free space to write to a CD in image mode, or

6 GB of free space to create DVD images. (For more
accurate guidelines, see the help files or
documentation for the recording software you’re
using.)
Operating Windows XP, 2000, Me, 98SE

System
Supported Media
Supported Stamped CDs: Single layer / Dual layer
Media, DVD-R: For general version 2.0
DVD Read DVD-RW: Version 1.0 / 1.1
DVD+R: Version 1.11
DVD+RW: Version 1.2
Supported Red/Yellow Book-compliant discs

Media,
Stamped CD
Supported Orange Book Pt II-compliant discs (Type 74, Type 80)

Media, CD-R
Supported Orange Book Pt III-compliant discs

Media,
CD-RW
Supported CD: 12 cm
Media Size DVD: 12 cm

Recommended Media
DVD+R: 8X Mitsubishi Chemical/Verbatim, Taiyo Yuden, Ricoh
NOTE: PoweRec will determine if 8X speed is

possible and will set the optimal write speed
DVD+R: Mitsubishi Chemical/Verbatim, Taiyo Yuden, Ricoh

4X, 2.4X
DVD+RW: Mitsubishi Chemical/Verbatim, Ricoh

4X, 2.4X
NOTE: All DVD+RW media are rewritable up to 1,000
times.
DVD-R: 4X-1X Mitsubishi Chemical/Verbatim, Taiyo Yuden, Maxell,

TDK
DVD-RW: Victor, Mitsubishi Chemical/Verbatim, TDK

2X-1X
NOTE: All DVD-RW media are rewritable up to 1,000
times.
CD-R: 40X Maxell, Mitsubishi Chemical/Verbatim, Taiyo Yuden
CD-R: 32X-4X Maxell, Mitsubishi Chemical/Verbatim, Taiyo Yuden,

Mitsui Chemicals, Ricoh
NOTE: You can disable PoweRec. With PoweRec

disabled, you can write at any speed (although your
results may be poor).
CD-RW: 24X Mitsubishi Chemical/Verbatim
CD-RW: Ricoh, Mitsubishi Chemical/Verbatim

10X-4X
NOTE: All CD-RW media are rewritable up to 1,000
times.

Usable Formats
Logical DVD DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, multi-border, multi-session,
Read/Write DVD+VR, DVD-VR (DVD-VR is read only)
Logical CD CD-DA, CD-Extra, CD-ROM Mode-1, CD-ROM Mode-

Read/Write 2, CD-ROM XA, Photo CD, Video CD, multi-session,
CD-TEXT, CD-I, CD+G, UDF
Write Sequential write, multi-session, random access write.

Methods, DVD+MRW (Mount Rainier) physical formatting in
DVD+R/RW background is supported.
Write Disc-at-once (DAO), incremental recording,

Methods, multi-border recording, restricted overwriting
DVD-R/RW
Write Track-at-once (TAO), DAO, packet write (variable and

Methods, fixed), multi-session, session-at-once (SAO), MRW
CD-R/RW (Mount Rainier)
Performance Specifications
Read Speed Speed Stamped DVD+R, DVD+RW,
DVD DVD DVD-R DVD-RW
Disc Disc
5-12X Yes (Single- – –
CAV layer disc)
3-8X Yes (Single Yes Yes
CAV or dual-layer
disc)
2-5X Yes (Single Yes Yes
CAV or dual-layer
disc)
2X CLV Yes (Single Yes Yes
or dual-layer
disc)
NOTE: When a DVD-Video with CSS (copy protection
via the Content Scrambling System) is loaded, the
PX-708A slows its playback speed to reduce drive
noise.

Performance Specifications (continued)

Read Speed, Speed Mode-1 Mode-2 CD-DA
CD Discs Discs Discs
17-40X Stamp,R, Stamp,R, Stamp,R
CAV RW RW
14-32X Stamp,R, Stamp,R, Stamp,R,
CAV RW RW RW
10X Stamp,R, Stamp,R, Stamp,R,
CAV RW RW RW
8X CLV Stamp,R, Stamp,R, Stamp,R,
RW RW RW
4X CLV Stamp,R, Stamp,R, Stamp,R,
RW RW RW
NOTE: “Stamp” indicates commercially pressed
“silver” discs.
Write Speed, Speed DVD+R DVD+RW

DVD+R/RW
8X Z CLV Yes –
4X CLV Yes Yes
2.4X CLV Yes Yes
2X CLV – –
1X CLV – –
Write Speed, Speed DVD-R DVD-RW

DVD-R/RW
8X Z CLV – –
4X CLV Yes –
2.4X CLV – –
2X CLV Yes Yes
1X CLV Yes Yes


Write Speed, Speed CD-R Ultra High Normal
CD-R/RW Speed Speed Speed
CD-RW CD-RW CD-RW
Media Media Media
40X Yes – – –
PCAV
32X Yes – – –
PCAV
24X – Yes – –
PCAV
16X Yes – – –
CLV
10X – – Yes –
CLV
8X CLV Yes – – –
4X CLV Yes – – Yes
DVD Transfer Speed Write (Kbps) Read (Kbps)

Rate
12X — 6750~16200 (CAV)
8X 8100~10800 4500~10800 (CAV)
(ZCLV)
5X — 2800~6750 (CAV)
4X 5400 (CLV) —
2.4X 3240 (CLV) —
2X 2700 (CLV) 2700 (CLV)
1X 1350 (CLV) —
CD Transfer Speed Write (Kbps) Read (Kbps)

Rate
40X 3000~6000 (PCAV) 2710~6000 (CAV)
32X 3000~4800 (PCAV) 2170~4800 (CAV)
24X 3000~3600 (PCAV) 1600~3600 (CAV)
16X 2400 (CLV) —
10X 1500 (CLV) —
8X 1200 (CLV) 1200 (CLV)
4X 600 (CLV) 600 (CLV)


Initialization Time measured from power on until disc is available
Time to read:
DVD: < 13 sec. (typical), < 15 sec. (max.)
CD: < 13 sec. (typical), < 15 sec. (max.)
Access Time Time measured from command phase until bus free
(no disconnect):
DVD: < 150 msec. (typical), < 180 msec (max.)
CD: < 100 msec. (typical), < 130 msec (max.)
Sleep Mode Entered after 2 minutes of no access to drive (default

setting)
Wake Mode < 5 sec. (max.) to start drive after sleep
DVD Regional Setting

Compatibility RPC phase-2-compatible
Changing Max. 5 times

regional
setting
Host Interface
Type ATA/ATAPI-5-compliant
PIO Transfers Modes 0-4
Multiword Modes 0-2

DMA
Transfers
Ultra DMA Modes 0-2 (Ultra DMA33)

Transfers
ATAPI Refer to the Plextor ATAPI command manual.

Command Set
Inquiry string PLEXTOR sp DVDR sp sp sp PX-708A sp sp
(where “sp” is one space)

Front Panel
Eject Eject button; manual emergency eject; software eject.
LED Indicator Yellow when initializing, reading, or ejecting disc.

Green during standby and when Buffer Underrun
Proof Technology or Lossless Linking/Zero Link is
active.
Blinking amber when writing to disc. Blink rate
indicates writing speed:
40 ms interval: Writing DVD at 8X Z-CLV; CD-R at
40X or 32X (CLV area); or CD-RW at 24X (CLV
area).
80 ms interval: Writing DVD at 4X CLV; CD-R at
40X or 32X (CAV area), or 16X CLV; or CD-RW
at 24X (CAV area) or 10X CLV.
150 ms interval: Writing DVD at 2.4X or 2X CLV;
CD-R at 8X or 4X CLV; or CD-RW at 4X CLV.
Disc Loading Auto
Headphone Stereo mini-jack for headphones and powered

Jack speakers.
Output voltage (max. volume): 0.8V (rms) ±0.3V
Load impedance: 32 ohms
S/N ratio: Typically 80dB
Total harmonic distortion + noise: Max. 0.08%
(1kHz)
Dynamic range: Typically 75dB (1kHz)
Channel separation: Typically 50dB (1kHz)
Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz
(+1/-5dB))
Headphone Wheel knob controls audio output level at front panel

Volume headphone jack only.
Control

Rear Panel
Power Supply DC +12V, DC +5V,
±10% ±5%
Typical standby current 100 mA 300 mA
Typical DVD read 900 mA 500 mA
current (DVD 12X)
Typical CD read current 900 mA 500 mA
(CD 40X)
Typical DVD write 900 mA 500 mA
current (DVD+R 8X)
Typical write current 1.0 A 700 mA
(CD-R 40X)
Typical pause current 600 mA 600 mA
Peak current 2.0 A 1A
IDE Interface IDE bus, 40-pin flat ribbon type. Interface complies
Connector with ATA/ATAPI-5. Maximum total cable length
cannot exceed 18 in (45.7 cm).
Analog Audio Stereo analog output, Molex connector (L*G*G*R),

Output MPC-3 standard:
Output voltage (max. volume): 0.55V(rms) ±1V
Load impedance: 10 k ohms
S/N ratio: Min. 80dB
Total harmonic distortion+noise: Max. 0.08%
(1kHz)
Dynamic range: Typically 75dB (1kHz)
Channel separation: Typically 70dB (1kHz)
Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz (0dB ±5dB)
Digital Audio Digital audio output for input to SPDIF or Digital-In

Output input
Mode Jumper Master (default), slave, cable select (CSEL)
DMA Jumper Open (no jumper): Ultra DMA mode 0-2 (default)
Short (jumper installed): Multiword DMA mode 0-2
Other Features
Data Buffer 2 MB

Environmental Conditions
Mounting Horizontal or vertical orientation:
Position Horizontal: ±15 degrees
Vertical: Front side up or down, ±15 degrees
Operating 0 to 40 degrees Celsius

Temperature
Performance 5 to 40 degrees Celsius

Guarantee
Temperature
Operating 20 to 80% (non-condensing)

Humidity
Storage –40 to 60 degrees Celsius

Temperature
Storage 20 to 95 % (non-condensing)
Humidity
Acoustic Noise Playing balanced disc: Maximum 45dB

Playing unbalanced disc: Maximum 45dB
Tray ejecting: Maximum 50dB
Vibration, Sine sweep 5 minutes:

Operating CD/DVD read: 0.15G0-Pk (5-300Hz)
CD-R write: 0.15G0-Pk (5-300Hz
CD-RW rewrite: 0.10G0-Pk (5-300Hz)
DVD write: 0.10G0-Pk (5-300Hz)
Vibration, Non- Sine sweep 5 minutes: 2.0G0-Pk (5-300Hz)

Operating (Power off, without disc)
Shock, 11msec half sine, 10 sec interval:

Operating CD read: 5.0G0-Pk (5-300Hz)
DVD read: 5.0G0-Pk (5-300Hz)
CD-R write: 1.5G0-Pk (5-300Hz)
CD-RW rewrite: 0.5G0-Pk (5-300Hz)
DVD+R/RW write: 0.5G0-Pk (5-300Hz)

Environmental Conditions (continued)

Shock, Non- Permissible velocity: Minimum 62G
operating Permissible velocity change: Minimum 220cm/sec
(Power off, without disc)
Electrostatic ±8KV aerial discharge

Discharge ±4KV contact discharge
Both with no hard errors, no damage
Dimensions and Weight

Dimensions 5.75" x 1.63" x 7.48"
(W/H/D) 146 mm x 41.3 mm x 190 mm
(excluding
front panel)
Weight < 2.6 lbs. (1.2 kg)
Reliability
MTBF 60,000 hours
Tray Loading 50,000 load/unload cycles

12
Read Error CD-ROM Mode 1: 1 block/10 bits
9
Rate CD-ROM Mode 2: 1 block/10 bits
Safety, Laser, and EMC Standards
Country/ Type Agency Standard
Region
USA Safety UL UL 1950
Laser FDA FDA 21 CFR 1040.10
and 1040.11
EMC FCC FCC Part15B-Class B
Canada Safety UL (C-UL) CSA 22.2 No. 950
Europe Safety CE EN60950
Laser CE EN60825-1
EMC CE EN55024,
EN50022 Class B
Taiwan EMC BSMI CNS13438 Class B
Korea EMC MIC
Australia/NZ EMC C-Tick AS/NZS3548 Class B

Appendix B: Technical Support
Store Plextor’s e-mail, web site, phone, and fax numbers in a convenient
location. Keep your drive’s serial number and a copy of your sales
receipt handy as well.
If you experience a problem while installing or operating your drive,

please refer first to the relevant sections of this manual regarding setup
and installation (Chapters 1–3). If you do not uncover the solution there,
please refer next to the maintenance and troubleshooting chapter that
begins on page 43. You may also wish to refer to the Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ) section of our web site to assist you in troubleshooting
the problem on your own.
NOTE: We encourage you to go the Plextor web site (www.plextor.com)

before attempting to contact Technical Support. The answers to the most
common questions callers ask can be found quickly in the support area.
Select PlexHelper for online troubleshooting or FAQs for answers to
common questions.
If you have not been successful in your quest, our Technical Support
Department will help you solve problems that relate specifically to your
PX-708A drive. In many cases, a problem that appears to be caused by
your Plextor drive actually originates in another part of your computer.
In such instances, our technical support staff will try to help you identify
the part at fault and will refer you to the manufacturer of that part for
further assistance.

How to Contact Plextor Technical Support

There are several ways for you to contact Plextor’s Technical Support
Department:
• Visit our web site (www.plextor.com) for answers to Frequently

Asked Questions.
• Send us e-mail at support@plextor.com. Include your telephone
number and the hours during which you can be reached. Be as
detailed as possible in describing your problem. Please include
system configuration, hardware and software, as well as versions of
drivers used.
• Call 800-886-3935 and select the tech support option.
Before You E-mail/Log On/FAX/Call for

Support
Please gather as much of the following information as possible before
contacting us.
• The serial number and TLA (top level assembly) number of your
PX-708A drive. Your serial number and TLA number appear both
on the drive label and on a sticker at the rear of internal drives.
• The latest version of firmware you loaded onto the drive, if

applicable.
• The version of the Windows operating system you are using.
• The brand name and model number of your computer (e.g., Dell
466/NP, Hewlett-Packard Pavilion 752n, etc.).
• The type of VGA, Super VGA, or other graphics board you use.
• Brand name and model number of any other peripherals you have
installed or connected to your computer (e.g., CD-ROM, scanner,
fax board, network board).

Returns
In the unlikely event that you need to return a drive to Plextor, you need
an RMA (Returned Materials Authorization) number. You need this
number before any Plextor drive can be returned for repair or
replacement. Here’s how you get an RMA number and return your
drive:
1. Contact Plextor Technical Support. You will receive assistance in
troubleshooting your system. If the drive is determined to be
defective, you will receive a Tech Support Ticket Number.
2. Locate the RMA request form at:

https://www.plextor.com/english/support/rma_request_form.htm.
Complete the form, providing the Technical Support Ticket number
and details of the drive failure. After completing the form, click the
Submit button.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The RMA form will NOT be processed without the
Tech Support Ticket Number.
3. Plextor will then return the RMA form to you via e-mail, with the
RMA number and shipping information included.
4. When you receive the RMA number, pack the Plextor drive securely
in a box, and include the RMA form as a packing slip.
5. Write the RMA number in large letters on the outside of the box, and
ship the box and the drive to Plextor.
Contacting Plextor’s RMA Department

You can contact our RMA Department and request RMA forms at:
• rmasupport@plextor.com
• Or by fax at 510-651-9765
• Or by calling us at 800-886-3935

Packing Your Drive

Check the drive to make sure there is no disc inside, and if possible,
pack your drive in the original box. Some of our customers have not
held on to their boxes and have had to resort to less-than-secure methods
to get drives back to us.
CAUTION: Never ship the drive with a CD or DVD disc inside it.
If you did not receive a box (for example, your drive came pre-installed
in a computer), we recommend you pay a packaging store (such as Mail
Boxes Etc.) to ship your drive. If you don’t have a packaging store in
your area, ask for packaging pointers when you contact us to get an
RMA number before returning any drive.
Shipping Your Drive to Plextor

Be sure to write the RMA number on the outside of the shipping box.
Any drive sent to Plextor without an RMA number will not be accepted.
NOTE: The RMA number must be clearly visible on the outside of the
shipping box.
Drives must be sent postage prepaid. We recommend that you insure

your shipment, as Plextor cannot be held responsible for any damage
that may occur during shipment.

Appendix C: Warranty
PLEXTOR CORP. (“Plextor”) warrants your PX-708A drive against
any defect in material and workmanship, under normal use, for a period
of one year following its date of purchase. In the event this product is
found to be defective within the warranty period, PLEXTOR will, at its
option, repair or replace the defective unit.
This warranty is void: a) if the unit is operated or stored under abnormal

use and/or conditions; b) if the unit is repaired, modified or altered,
unless such repair, modification or alteration is expressly authorized in
writing by PLEXTOR;
c) if the unit is subjected to abuse, neglect, lightning strike, electrical
fault, improper packaging, or accident; d) if the unit is installed
improperly; or e) if the serial number of the unit is defaced or missing.
PLEXTOR will not, under any circumstances, be liable for direct,

special, or consequential damages such as, but not limited to, damage or
loss of property or equipment, loss of profits or revenues, cost of
replacement goods, or expense or inconvenience caused by service
interruptions. Under no circumstances will any person be entitled to any
sum greater than the purchase price paid for the unit.
To obtain warranty service, you must contact PLEXTOR’s Technical

Support Department by e-mail (support@plextor.com) or by calling
800-886-3935. The Technical Support Department will attempt to
diagnose and correct your problem. If the unit does not function
properly, they will give you instructions on obtaining a Return Material
Authorization (RMA) number. You may be asked to furnish proof of
purchase to confirm that the unit is still under warranty.
All product returns must be authorized in advance by PLEXTOR.

Authorization is confirmed by issuance of the RMA number, which
must be written prominently on the outside of the box in which the
defective unit is returned to PLEXTOR.

Appendix C: Warranty
All drives returned to PLEXTOR must be securely packaged and

shipped postage prepaid.
The drive will be returned to the customer at Plextor’s expense when

originating within the United States. For a drive originating outside of
the United States, the customer is responsible for shipping costs in both
directions.
NOTE: Warranty validity is limited to that applicable in the location where

the drive was originally purchased.
If You’re Outside the U.S. or Canada

Note that the warranty and RMA policy only apply to the United States
and Canada. If you are in South America, contact your dealer or reseller
for all warranty and RMA claims.

Index
SPDIF· 31
A cable connections· 29
cable select· 13, 20, 21, 56
access time· 54 cable for· 21, 25
analog audio configuring PX-708A for· 21
cable· 24, 29 identifying· 22
output connector· 9, 29, 31, 56 master· 22
ATAPI command set· 54 setting mode jumper· 15
audio signal· 21
analog· 9, 56 slave· 22
digital· 56 CD
audio cable· 30 formats supported· 51
reading speed· 52, 53
B recording modes· 4, 51
write methods· 4, 51
background format, CD-RW· 2 CD reading speed· 52
bay cover panel· 26 CD+G· 4
black tray· 3 CD-DA reading speed· 2
box CD-R
contents of· 6 compatibility· 4
shipping· 6, 61, 62 media· 33, 50
buffer· 4, 40, 56 reading speed· 2
Buffer Underrun Proof Technology writing· 38
· 4, 40 writing speed· 2, 53
LED indicator and· 7, 55 CD-R/RW software· 9
CD-ROM, playing· 33
C CD-RW
achieving best performance· 16
cable background format· 2
analog audio· 24 compatibility· 4
audio· 30 high speed· 53
cable select· 21, 25 LED indication· 39
digital audio· 24 media· 33, 50
IDE· 24, 25, 28 normal speed· 53
MPC· 31 reading speed· 2
power· 24 ultra speed· 53
power for drive· 25 writing· 38
Sound Blaster· 31 writing speed· 2, 53

Index
CD-TEXT· 4 Digital-In connector· 8, 30, 31, 56

cleaning disc· 36 dimensions· 58
cleaning your drive· 43 disc
precautions· 10, 43 cleaning· 36
closing tray· 35 labels· 36
compatibility loading· 55
CD-R· 4 DMA
CD-RW· 4 jumper· 9, 22
DVD· 3, 37 support· 3, 54
computer, minimum· 5, 49 drive
configuration· 6 installing· 24
cable select· 21 recognizing in Windows· 31
minimum· 5, 49 dual layer disc· 2, 39
types of IDE· 13 DVD
connection compatibility· 3, 37
digital audio· 56 formats compared· 37
sound board and· 30 formats supported· 4, 51
connector media· 33, 50
analog audio output· 9, 29, 56 playing· 37
digital audio· 8, 30 reading speed· 2, 51, 52
IDE interface· 9, 28, 56 recording modes· 4, 51
power· 9, 29, 56 regional setting· 37, 54
connectors and jumpers, rear-panel write methods· 4, 51
· 8, 56 writing speed· 52
content scrambling system· 4, 8, DVD+R· 37
39, 51 media· 33, 50
controls, front-panel· 7, 55 software· 9
cover panel, bay· 26 writing· 37
CSEL· See cable select writing speed· 2, 52
CSS· See content scrambling DVD+RW· 37
system editing· 3
media· 33, 50
D software· 9
writing· 37
data buffer· 4, 40, 56 writing speed· 52
diagnostics· 3, 45, 46 DVD+VR· 2
digital audio output· 56 DVD-R· 37
connector· 8, 30, 31, 56 drive capabilities· 33
media· 50
writing speed· 2, 52

Index
DVD-RW· 37 front-panel controls· 7, 55

drive capabilities· 33
media· 50 H
writing speed· 52
zero link· 3 hard disk size· 5, 49
DVD-Video headphone jack· 7, 55
reading speed· 2, 4, 39, 51 headphone volume control· 7, 55
no effect on rear panel output· 8
E high speed CD-RW
LED indication· 39
editing DVD+RW· 3 media· 33
eject write speed· 53
emergency· 7, 44 host interface· 54
methods for· 55 humidity
eject button· 8 specification· 57
closing tray· 35 storage· 57
used for self-test· 47
electrostatic discharge I
specification· 58
EMC standards· 58 IDE configuration
emergency eject hole· 7, 44 determining for PX-708A· 12
emergency eject tool· 7, 44 examples· 16
environmental conditions· 57 selecting for PX-708A· 16
error rate specification· 58 types of· 13
IDE interface connector· 9, 28, 56
F IDE ports· 13
IDE ribbon cable· 24
features· 3 cable select· 25
CD-R· 4 connecting· 28
DVD· 3 standard· 25
firmware· 41 initialization time· 54
obtaining· 44 inquiry string· 54
upgrading· 3, 44 installation· 11, 16, 18, 19, 20, 24
flash memory· 3, 44 examples· 16
formats· 51 interface· 5
CD· 4, 51
DVD· 4, 37, 51 J
jumper
DMA· 9, 22
mode· 9, 13, 56

Index
L motherboard BIOS setup program·

32
label, disc· 36 Mount Rainier
laser power, adjusting with CD· 4, 51
VariRec· 41, 42 DVD· 4, 51
laser standards· 58 mounting position· 24, 36, 57
LED indicator· 7, 55 mounting PX-708A· 26
blink rate· 39, 55 mounting rails· 27
Buffer Underrun Proof MPC-compliant audio cable· 31
Technology and· 55 MRW· See Mount Rainier
color· 38, 55 MTBF· 58
lossless linking· 3 multiword DMA· 22
M N
maintenance· 43 noise specification· 57
master· 13, 16, 56 normal speed CD-RW
cable select· 22 LED indication· 39
PX-708A as· 13 write speed· 53
setting drive as· 13
setting in BIOS· 32
setting mode jumper· 15 O
media· 33 OPC· See optimum power control
care and handling· 35 opening the computer· 12
CD-R· 33, 50 operating system· 5, 49
CD-RW· 33, 50 optimum power control· 4, 41
DVD· 33, 50 optional cable connections· 24
DVD+R· 50 orange book· 4, 49
DVD+RW· 33, 50 overburn· 5, 42
DVD-R· 50 requirements for· 42
DVD-RW· 50
recommended· 50
size· 49
supported· 4, 49
memory, minimum· 5, 49
minimum cable connections· 24
minimum computer· 49
minimum configuration· 5, 49
minimum RAM· 5, 49
MMC-4 command set· 3
mode jumper· 9, 56
changing· 14, 15
setting· 13

Index
rear-panel connectors· 8, 56
P recognizing the PX-708A drive in
Windows· 31
packing for shipment· 62 recording length, extending· 42
performance specifications· 51, recording modes
52, 53, 54 CD· 4, 51
PIO support· 3, 54 DVD· 4, 51
playing DVD· 37 red book· 49
plug and play, support for· 3 region code· 37, 54
position, mounting· 24, 36, 57 regional setting· 37, 54
power reliability· 58
cable· 25 returns· 6, 61
connecting cable· 29 RMA number· 6, 61, 62
connector· 9, 29, 56 ROPC· See running optimum
requirements· 56 power control
PoweRec· 3, 41 running optimum power control· 4
precautions· 10
primary IDE port· 13 S
R safety standards· 58
screws, mounting· 30
rails· 27 secondary IDE port· 13
RAM· 5 security sticker· 6
minimum· 5, 49 selecting an IDE configuration· 16
read formats· 4 self-test diagnostics· 3, 45, 46
read specification serial number, recording· 24
CD· 52, 53 shipping your drive· 6, 61, 62
DVD· 51, 52 shock specification· 57
reading speed silent operation· 4, 8, 39, 51
CD-R· 2 single layer disc· 2, 39
CD-RW· 2 slave· 13, 16, 56
controlling for silent operation· cable select· 22
4 setting drive as· 13
digital audio· 52 setting in BIOS· 32
dual layer disc· 2, 39 setting mode jumper· 15
DVD· 2 sleep mode· 54
DVD-Video· 2, 4, 39, 51 software· 9
single layer disc· 2, 39 CD-R/RW· 9
SpeedRead and· 39 DVD+R· 9
DVD+RW· 9

Index
Sony/Philips digital interface· See ticket number, tech support· 61

SPDIF TLA code· 24
Sound Blaster-compliant audio transfer rate
cable· 31 CD· 53
sound board, connections to· 30 DVD· 53
SPDIF tray
cable· 31 closing· 35
connector· 8, 30, 31, 56 front door· 7
specifications· 49, 51, 52, 53, 54 loading and unloading· 35
speed loading specification· 58
monitoring· 38 troubleshooting· 44
reading CD-R· 2 with self-test diagnostics· 45
reading CD-ROM· 52, 53
reading CD-RW· 2 U
reading digital audio· 52
reading DVD· 2, 51, 52 UDF support· 4
reading DVD-Video· 2, 4, 39, ultra DMA
51 PX-708A set to· 22
writing CD-R· 2 support· 3, 54
writing DVD· 52 ultra speed CD-RW
writing DVD+R· 2 LED indication· 39
writing DVD+RW· 2 write speed· 53
writing DVD-R· 2 upgrading firmware· 3, 44
writing DVD-RW· 2
SpeedRead· 4, 8, 39 V
disabling· 40
stereo output signal· 9, 56 variable recording technology· 41
support· 59 VariRec· 4, 41
system requirements· 49 changing setting· 42
default setting· 41
T writing speed with· 42
vibration specification· 57
tech support ticket number· 61 volume control· 7, 55
technical support· 59, 60
temperature
performance guarantee· 57
specification· 57
storage· 57

Index
DVD+RW· 52
W DVD-R· 2, 52
DVD-RW· 52
wake mode· 54 monitoring· 38
warranty· 63 VariRec and· 4, 42
web site, Plextor· 59 writing to CD-R· 38
weight· 58 writing to CD-RW· 38
write formats· 4 writing to DVD+R· 37
write methods writing to DVD+RW· 37
CD· 4, 51
DVD· 4, 51 Y
writing a CD
image· 5, 49 yellow book· 49
writing speed
achieving· 34 Z
CD-R· 2, 53
CD-RW· 2, 53 zero link· 3
DVD+R· 2, 52

Index
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Notes

PLEXTOR CORP.
48383 Fremont Blvd.
Suite 120
Fremont CA 94538-6509
Phone: 510-440-2000
800-886-3935
Fax: 510-651-9755
E-mail: info@plextor.com
www.plextor.com
P/N 127-2789-02

Plextor PX-708A User Manual

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Model PX-708A Internal ATAPI

DVD±R/RW, CD-R/RW DRIVE

Plextor makes no representation or warranties with respect to the

This manual is copyrighted, all rights reserved. It may not be copied,

Manual copyright ©2003 Plextor Corp. Fourth edition, October 2003.

Licenses and Trademarks

Record Your Serial Number

TLA/Firmware Revision Number

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION STATEMENT

CANADIAN DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

CAUTION: Use of controls or adjustments or performance of procedures other

Top View of Internal Drive Showing Caution Label Location

Detail of Laser Caution Labels

PX-708A Installation and Users Manual v

Handling DVD and CD Media.................................................. 35

vi PX-708A Installation and Users Manual

About this Manual

PX-708A Installation and Users Manual 1

Meet Your PX-708A

What the PX-708A Does

For CDs, the PX-708A:

2 PX-708A Installation and Users Manual

Features of the PX-708A

• Self-test diagnostics: The PX-708A has a self-test diagnostic

PX-708A Installation and Users Manual 3

• Multiple DVD types: Supports DVD-ROM, DVD-Video, multi-

4 PX-708A Installation and Users Manual

• Overburn: Lets you burn more information on a standard disc—

Minimum Configuration to Use the PX-708A

What You Can Do with the PX-708A

PX-708A Installation and Users Manual 5

What’s In the Box

If the security sticker on

6 PX-708A Installation and Users Manual

PX-708A Drive Features and Controls

Front Panel—PX-708A Internal Drive

Figure 1: Front panel of the PX-708A internal ATAPI drive

PX-708A Installation and Users Manual 7

Rear Panel—PX-708A Internal Drive

Figure 2: Rear panel of the PX-708A internal ATAPI drive

8 PX-708A Installation and Users Manual

• Analog audio output connector: Outputs an analog stereo signal.

PX-708A Installation and Users Manual 9

10 PX-708A Installation and Users Manual

QuickStart Installation—For Experienced PC

PX-708A Installation and Users Manual 11

Open the Computer and Prepare for

To open the computer:

2. Remove your computer’s cover, following the directions provided by

Figure 3: Removing a typical computer's cover

Determine Your Existing IDE Configuration

12 PX-708A Installation and Users Manual

One end of the IDE cable is connected to a port on the computer’s

Before you install your PX-708A, your computer’s IDE configuration is

Set the Drive’s Mode Jumper

PX-708A Installation and Users Manual 13

Changing the Mode Jumper on Your PX-708A

Figure 4: Factory settings for mode jumper at the rear

14 PX-708A Installation and Users Manual

Changing to a Master, Slave, or Cable Select

Changing Jumper Settings

CAUTION: Ensure power to the drive is OFF before installing or

Figure 5: Install the mode jumper across vertical pairs of pins

PX-708A Installation and Users Manual 15